This blog is dedicated to our dear friend, Nosson Deitsch OBM, who was tragically torn away from us on Lag B’Omer 5770.

Nosson was a one-of-a kind Bochur who influenced many people, from all ages and backgrounds. He had a perpetual smile on his face and an extremely generous heart. He would do the biggest favor for a friend with only a moment’s notice. All those who knew him feel they had a unique relationship with him.

There are many untold stories of his selflessness, kindness, and the affect he had on countless lives. Please share your story, so that others can get a glimpse into his unique character and towering accomplishments.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Lag Baomer - thoughts two years later

By: Eli Snaderson

I had the privilege of speaking by the 2nd yahrtzeit of Nosson, in Nosson's shul - I'll share what I touched on that night.
"Nosson's yartzeit falls out during the weeks of Kedoshim and emor.

Appropriately, here we are, gathered to speak about Nosson - Kedoshim Emor.
When I heard the news on that day, I had just landed in Atlanta from a visit. visit to New York. Of course, as Nosson’s best friend, I got right back on a plane to be here. The next day, we, his friends, gathered and shared the same feeling over and over again: We each felt that he was our closest buddy, someone who really knew how to listen and even better how to respond.

There's a story told - Many years ago of a king and his son who crossed the hot desert. Soon the prince fell ill, dehydrated from the journey and badly in need of water.
The servants all offered ideas of where to go for water but the king was not interested. He didn’t want them to race their camels to a nearby town or to squeeze juice out of the fruit they had along. He didn’t want them to pay forty bucks for a bottle of pure Evian at the highway gas station.
Instead, the king ordered a well dug right in that spot, with a sign to identify it posted nearby.
“Right now,” the king explained to his son, “we can find water quickly and easily.
“But maybe one day—maybe many years’ from now—you’ll be traveling here again. Maybe you will be alone, without the power and privilege that we have now. Then, you will still have this well to quench your thirst. And if it is covered over? This signpost will remind you of where to dig and you will eventually find the lifesaving water.

In this week’s Parsha, the first posuk in today's chitas- the Torah lists all of the Mikraei Kodesh- yomim tovim that contain powers such as Freedom on Pesach or Forgiveness on Yom Kippur.
But seriously: In this day and place, can we afford to wait until the Seder that happens once a year to taste the freedom we need every day?
So we think of the prince in the desert and his thirst for water.
The Rebbeim explain that Mikraei Kodesh means “callings of holiness”—like a well is filled with water, these times are actually filled with certain powers. Whether we are princes or servants; whether we are traveling with the king or walking alone, as long as we find the well, we can drink and drink…
On Pesach we can stop and internalize freedom for the entire year. On Chanuka we can draw in light and clarity for the months and year ahead.
And on Lag baomer - the essential theme is ahavas yisrael - which Nosson was all about.

Nosson passed away PUNKT on Lag baomer. On a day that was already—and will always be—filled with extra joy, weddings and live music, a full-on celebration.
Knowing Nosson, he had his way with G-d. If what happened is all part of His master plan - something we can't understand - Nosson so to speak had one-up on G-d. Nosson made sure that the day he left this World, was on a day we would all, so to speak, celebrate.

It wasn’t enough for Nosson to be remembered. He also wanted to be a reminder—to be a Mikra Kodesh, a day of holiness that will make us improve our friendships, liveliness and passion-to-act.
When it comes to being a better friend to each other, Nosson will always be our well in the desert, and Lag Ba’omer will always be our sign-post.
We are each one of a thousand people who thought of Nosson as his closest friend. Now it’s our turn to dig, and become that friend to a thousand others.

For our age-group, Lag Baomer will always be the day of how to be more like Nosson Deitsch.